sperki

Howdy!

This topic raises a related question, at least to me...If martial arts is about discipline, at least on some level, it seems like you couldn't possibly really start teaching somebody MA until at least age 5 or 6. That's about the age that team sports start to appeal to kids, which indicates to me that they have some concept of positioning (whether it is body or field position) and some sense of purpose. Before they start to grasp certain key concepts aren't you really just working on gross motor control / development with the kids? Not that those things are bad, clearly in the US at least, we have problems with kids not being active enough, so I think MA (or whatever you want to call it) for the little guys is a great thing - it means they're not watching TV.....of course here I am staring at a computer monitor

If you want to jump, jump. This will probably sound kind of silly, but it's called specificity of training. And it means you train to do what you want to do. If I wanted to be a better swimmer I would swim. While there would be some benefit to running I would see the largest and quickest gains from actually swimming. The same principal is true here. There are lots of different exercises, but what you need to do is some sort of explosive leg movement. Find a box or stool that is an appropriate height for you (probably 15"-22" to start), stand about a foot away from it, and jump, with both legs, onto the platform. Quickly jump off and without pause spring back onto the platform. Repeat for about 20 repetitions. This will also get your heart rate up. To work one leg at a time put one foot (toe) on a platform that is 12"-20" high and about 2' behind you. Then drop into a lunge position and explode up with your front leg so that foot actually leaves the ground. Again 20 reps is a good starting point. Don't forget to work both legs! Squats / leg presses will help, but the explosive exercises will translate more directly into a higher vertical than a slow controlled lift. Good luck!

It looks like it's already built as a carport, just park below it

Without currently practicing a MA this is a sort of broad response. But stay motivated by 1. variety, 2. competing, 3. wanting to be smarter, stronger, faster, better. I just ran a half marathon last weekend. I didn't set any records, but I know where I can improve next year. Every summer I compete in several triathlons, so I train for a variety of exercises. I play soccer, where my team is counting on me to be proficient and fit enough to hold my own (I bet the LEO's on here find a similar situation at work). And I'm pursuing a career in firefighting, so I need to be fit enough to do well on the tests for all of the local FD's.

That second link isn't a tree house, it's an elevated home! I wouldn't be surprised if it was more square feet than my house, especially if I don't include the basement! But they do look nice.

Yea, the play and ask idea is interesting, and I've seen people doing kata in a couple of local parks. Of course that would require me to remember more than just a front snap kick or an overhead block...at least I think it would be more effective if I was actually doing something.

You mean being absurdly jacked?! Well with that much muscle you should be able to have a very explosive strike - so if you connect it could be one shot knock-out. And steroids can be beneficial for recovering faster. But flexibility tends to be a bit limited. Even if these guys stretch regularly the sheer mass of muscle can be an impediment to having full range of motion! Of course if the point of MA is to protect yourself on the street, being the last guy around anybody would pick on is a pretty successful way of staying safe. And biceps bigger than my thigh say, "don't mess with me!"

There are some great exercises listed here. Somebody noted that balance was related to weak ankles; the two go hand in hand. Therapy for people that regularly sprain ankles (weak ankles) involves standing on one leg while moving the other one in various directions. It forces the small stabilizing muscles in the planted leg to flex to maintain balance. The stand on one leg and write the alphabet with the other is a great exercise. Do it while you brush your teeth or watch TV. Just make sure you work both legs equally.

Sorry tallgeese, I didn't mean to leave any organizations off the list. I'm not familiar with NSCA, but there website certainly makes them look pretty solid.

Joi, Welcome to you also. I've been in SLC for about 3 years now, and I love it. If you're into outdoor pursuits you can't been the mountain west!

Akedm, First of all I was a personal trainer in college, still coach adult running classes through the university of Utah, and have taken college anatomy and physiology. (Be careful with trainers, there's no national standard for it, so somebody could just have "Joe's PT Certification" but not know anything. The ACSM is the gold standard, but ACE and AAFA are good too.) The angle of your ankle doesn't look too abnormal. The video you posted of the beefcake squating showed pretty good form - his stance might be wider than I would recommend (not realistic translation to daily life or athletics), but not too shabby. I used to tell folks it's like taking a dump in the woods and you don't want to get any on your shoes. Keep your spine flexed (not rounded forward) stick your butt out, and lean forward as needed to keep your balance. Start with body weight squats and watch your form in the mirror. Hold your hands in front of you or behind your head to help you keep your balance and your torso as vertical as possible, but IT'S OK TO BEND AT THE WAIST! If you're ready for weight try a front squat; the weight will be in front of you on your shoulders and it will help you stay more vertical and potentially take some strain off your ankle. Good Luck!

This is a great idea; I keep a calendar that is my workout journal; I record my workout and how I felt. It's a bit more generic than this - I just note what muscle groups I worked and distance and times for cardio events and generic sporting events. As a personal trainer running coach I recommend that everybody keeps some sort of exercise log. It's a great way to get feedback on your fitness, and it's motivating. Too many blank days and folks feel guilty! Bushido, I gotta ask; is the 60lb curl with a bar, dumbbells, or a machine?

Is there a good way to find good schools? The phone book includes all of the strip mall dojos, but it seems like some of the best places are a bit more hidden.

I guess I should put a post here, although I've already put comments on other threads. I studied karate for about 6 months in St. Louis before moving to Utah. That was several years ago, but I'd like to get back into MA. So here I am doing a little on-line research about what and where (in the Salt Lake area) to practice.

Ninja Nurse, Sorry to put this in the wrong place, clearly I didn't read all of the the categories very well! Thanks for moving it. Rateh - Yep, I'm in SLC; any good recommendations?

After watching video from the link that ps1 posted it looks like bjj typically goes from a take-down to a joint lock. I guess the deal is you tap out before serious damage occurs, so you're not sore and bruised the next day like you would be from getting punched and kicked?

1. As far as a carjacking why not just step on the gas and drive away? It seems like if the bad guy doesn't hurt you right away he's looking for an easy target. The police on here probably have more statistics and insight. Of course most stolen cars end up getting returned to the owner, usually in worse shape than when they were borrowed, but returned none the less. 2. The UDT's never became Seals - that's the flippered mammal with hair and blubber covering their entire bodies - the folks you're thinking of are the SEALs. Sorry to nit-pick; as a former Marine (which is always capitalized) I prefer to see these terms used correctly.

Does it seem odd that an adult would practice with kids? At the dojo I previously trained at the kids class wrapped up at 6:45, and the folks that were at least in the midst of puberty or older took the floor at 7:00. Bastich - good luck with the stretching. The only time in my life that I've ever felt vaguely flexible was when I was participating in karate twice a week; it's been the only way I can make myself stretch!

Tallgeese, I'm surprised to hear that a grappling style won't beat me up as much as a striking style. In my, admittedly limited, experience it seems that grappling requires somebody to get thrown to the ground in nearly every exercise, while striking often includes lots of imaginary targets. Clearly there's more to it than that?

Hi folks, I've been trolling, or lurking, or whatever it's called when you read forums as a guest, for a while. I studied karate for about 6 months a few years ago and loved it, but moved from Missouri to Utah and left the dojo behind. I'd love to get back into fighting arts and I know that everybody recommends going and watching classes - I have been - but I'm wondering if karate is the right choice or if I should expand my search. I'm 5'6" but weigh 175 - so I'm short and stocky. It seems like my build might be better suited to judo or other grappling arts; in a stand up and strike art most folks have better range than me. But I'm pushing 30, so the idea of beating the crap out of myself in some of the more physical arts doesn't appeal as much anymore. I really liked the balance I had at my previous dojo; some (controlled) sparring once a week, but plenty of time punching and kicking the air or bag, and plenty of kata to work on the techniques. There's a shotokan class here that I'd like to look into, as long as it's more traditional than sport oriented I think it might appeal to me. Thanks in advance for your feedback, Steve